This news brief appeared in the August/September issue of PRC’s Preservation in Print magazine. Interested in getting more preservation stories like this delivered to your door? Become a member of the PRC for a subscription!
The Louisiana National Register Review Committee has signed off on nominations for two historic places with special meaning to New Orleans’ African American community. The nominations for Lincoln Beach and the Hollygrove neighborhood, which were approved by the committee in Baton Rouge on May 25, now have advanced to the National Park Service for final approval.
More than 15 New Orleans residents attended the committee meeting in support of the Lincoln Beach nomination presented by its author, Mia Kaplan. Sharon Robles, a project manager with the City of New Orleans, read a letter of support from Mayor Latoya Cantrell and fielded questions about the city’s $24.6 million redevelopment plan, which will feature a museum, music venue and natural areas. Several New Orleans residents spoke in favor, including Tricia “Blyss” Wallace and Sage Michael Pellet from the organization New Orleans for Lincoln Beach and Dawn Hebert of the Eastern New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Corporation. The nomination was approved with no opposition and one abstention.
The committee next unanimously advanced the nomination for Hollygrove Historic District. Gabrielle Begue presented the nomination for Ryan consultants, and district property owner Paul Irons spoke passionately in favor, noting the economic opportunities that recognition can create for a neighborhood that has seen less investment than others since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The PRC’s Nathan Lott also spoke in favor of both nominations, noting that they tell important stories of life in 20th century New Orleans, a diverse city that was shaped and re-shaped by segregation and the Civil Rights movement.
The PRC congratulations the Lincoln Beach and Hollygrove supporters on the nominations.
